False-Positive Malignant Diagnosis of Nodule Mimicking Lesions by Computer-Aided Thyroid Nodule Analysis in Clinical Ultrasonography Practice

Diagnostics

卷:10

Károly Rucz¹  Péter Bogner²  Zsófia Hári²  Krisztián Molnár²  Tamás Gáspár²  Arnold Tóth²  Omar Giyab²  Endre Kálmán³ 

[1] 1st Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, University of Pécs Medical School, Ifjúság út 13, 7624 Pécs, Hungary;

[2] Department of Diagnostic Imaging, University of Pécs Medical School, Ifjúság út 13, 7624 Pécs, Hungary;

[3] Department of Pathology, University of Pécs Medical School, Szigeti Út 12, 7643 Pécs, Hungary;

关键词: computer-assisted diagnosis;    ultrasonography;    thyroid nodule;    thyroid cancer;    diagnostic errors;   

DOI  :  10.3390/diagnostics10060378

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

This study aims to test computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) for thyroid nodules in clinical ultrasonography (US) practice with a focus towards identifying thyroid entities associated with CAD system misdiagnoses. Two-hundred patients referred to thyroid US were prospectively enrolled. An experienced radiologist evaluated the thyroid nodules and saved axial images for further offline blinded analysis using a commercially available CAD system. To represent clinical practice, not only true nodules, but mimicking lesions were also included. Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) was performed according to present guidelines. US features and thyroid entities significantly associated with CAD system misdiagnosis were identified along with the diagnostic accuracy of the radiologist and the CAD system. Diagnostic specificity regarding the radiologist was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than when compared with the CAD system (88.1% vs. 40.5%) while no significant difference was found in the sensitivity (88.6% vs. 80%). Focal inhomogeneities and true nodules in thyroiditis, nodules with coarse calcification and inspissated colloid cystic nodules were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with CAD system misdiagnosis as false-positives. The commercially available CAD system is promising when used to exclude thyroid malignancies, however, it currently may not be able to reduce unnecessary FNABs, mainly due to the false-positive diagnoses of nodule mimicking lesions.

【 授权许可】

Unknown